Magdlyn

Well, I think Jesus, when portrayed as a literary device representing Hillelian rabbinical thought (as opposed to a Dionysian dying and rising godman), maintained a similar view as Hillel. Paraphrasing:

Do unto others as you would have done to you. All the rest is commentary, go and learn it.

Clouseau

Already said, long before. So why Jesus?

Magdlyn

B/c so many of his teachings are just cribbed from the Hebrew Scriptures, and are not original in the least. :huh:

Midrash for a "new age." The original part is not really his teachings. They are merely in line with previous prophets. The reinterpretation of Torah at this time~ "put a hedge around it"~ was a Pharasaical idea.

The original thing which those who invented Jesus created, was the syncretism between a Jewish messiah/prophet and a Hellenistic dying and rising godman. That's what made it seem "sexy," exciting and new.

Clouseau

So he got himself crucified for saying "Do as you would be done by." Hmm.

Magdlyn

No, it wasn't quite that simple. Silly to even say that, really. It's a story of a man who preached caritas, while also being involved somewhat with the violent Zealots in rebelling against Roman occupation, meanwhile also insisting the Temple was corrupt. He angered both the Romans and the Temple priests.

I think you need to do more reading. Try The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Price, and Jesus the Pharisee (or via: amazon.co.uk), and [i]The Mythmaker (or via: amazon.co.uk)[/b] (which is about Paul), both by Maccoby, for starters.

Clouseau

Evidence, please.

He said rather more than that, surely.

Magdlyn

Sigh. I'm not going to hold your hand thru all this, Clouseau. Why don't you do some reading?

Ta.

Clouseau

No evidence; case dismissed.